Pancreatic Cancer on Track to Become Second Leading Cause of Cancer Death, New Treatment Shows Promise

Pancreatic cancer is poised to overtake colorectal cancer as the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths by 2030, according to recent projections. This alarming trend is accompanied by a disturbing increase in pancreatic cancer diagnoses among individuals under 55 years old, challenging the notion that this disease primarily affects older adults or those with specific risk factors.

In 2023, an estimated 66,440 Americans will receive a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, with 51,750 expected to succumb to the disease. The five-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer remains dismal at just 13%, largely due to late-stage diagnoses and limited treatment options.

As the incidence of pancreatic cancer rises, so does the urgency for improved detection methods and more effective treatments. The global pancreatic cancer market is projected to reach $7.4 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 13.7%.

One promising area of research focuses on immunotherapies, which harness the body's immune system to combat cancer cells. Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (NASDAQ: ONCY) is at the forefront of this approach with its lead candidate, pelareorep, an intravenously delivered immunotherapeutic agent.

Pelareorep works by inducing anti-cancer immune responses and promoting an inflamed tumor phenotype, effectively turning "cold" tumors "hot." This mechanism generates, recruits, and trains immune cells to recognize and attack cancer while remodeling the tumor microenvironment to facilitate immune cell access.

The potential of pelareorep is currently being evaluated in the GOBLET study, a phase 1/2 trial investigating its use in combination with other therapies for advanced or metastatic gastrointestinal cancers. The study recently expanded to include a new cohort testing pelareorep with modified FOLFIRINOX (mFOLFIRINOX), with or without atezolizumab, in newly diagnosed metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients.

This expansion is supported by a $5 million Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) Therapeutic Accelerator Award, underscoring the treatment's potential significance. Oncolytics Biotech recently announced the dosing of the first patient in this expanded cohort, marking a crucial milestone in the development of pelareorep.

Dr. Thomas Heineman, Chief Medical Officer at Oncolytics, expressed optimism about the trial's potential, stating, "If the combination of pelareorep and mFOLFIRINOX also demonstrates a promising efficacy signal, we could have two pancreatic cancer treatment regimens on the path to registration."

The GOBLET study's results are eagerly anticipated, as success could significantly broaden the population of metastatic pancreatic cancer patients who might benefit from pelareorep-based therapies. This is particularly important given that mFOLFIRINOX is currently one of two primary treatment options for many pancreatic cancer patients.

As pancreatic cancer continues to pose a growing threat, the work of companies like Oncolytics Biotech offers hope for improved outcomes. The development of innovative treatments such as pelareorep may prove crucial in combating this aggressive and often lethal form of cancer, potentially altering the landscape of cancer mortality in the coming years.